Hi Susan.....hope you are feeling better and the mucus is under control. My mom had a suction machine (2 actually, one was portable for in the car). She got it after her surgeries, and I must say....relied on it big time. She also had a trach, so we were able to help suction in her throat through the trach if she had trouble coughing it up. I guess each person is different, but I found the machine to be a major blessing! Good luck.
Brooke